ROOKIE TACKLE RULEBOOK American Development Model / 2018 National Opt-In TABLE OF CONTENTS 1: 6-PLAYER RULES 2 2: 7-PLAYER RULES 8 3: 8-PLAYER RULES 13 3 / 6-PLAYER RULES Rookie Tackle uses the NFHS rule book as a base and employs the following adjustments for 6-player football. 1. Because of the all players, all positions, all skills philosophy, there are no restrictions on jersey numbers or player positions. 2. All game action takes place on one half of the field with all possessions starting on the 40- yard line going toward the end zone in between the numbers. 3. A turnover on downs brings the ball back to the 40-yard line, and the teams switch sides from offense to defense, defense to offense. 4. Turnovers on interceptions or fumbles are blown dead immediately. No returns are allowed in order to protect players from running toward the 20-yard administration zone between the two fields. Play restarts on the 40-yard line with the recovering/intercepting team now on offense. There are no defensive touchdowns. 5. After each play, the ball is spotted in the middle of the field. Hash marks are not used. 6. Because of the limited field size, all 15-yard penalties are enforced as 10-yard penalties. 7. No penalty on the offense can take the ball beyond the 40-yard line to ensure the administration zone is free. 8. Penalties on the offense that are called and accepted on or behind the 40-yard line result in a loss of down. 9. Penalties on the offense called between the 40-yard line and the end zone in which yardage is lost, even if limited in enforcement by the 40-yard line, are enforced as written in terms of down lost or replayed. 10. There are no defensive safeties. Tackles behind the 40-yard line are respotted at the 40-yard line with the offense still retaining the ball as long as a down remains. 11. All personal foul penalties include an immediate substitution from the field for a minimum of one play to allow coaches to address misconduct and promote good sportsmanship. We call this a cooling off period. 12. All plays are blown dead and the ball is returned to the 40-yard line if an offensive ball-carrier or a fumbled ball crosses over midfield or at the official’s discretion if coaches, administrators or players from the multiple fields and the dead zone area become close enough in proximity to be a concern for safety. 13. The game is played in four 10-minute quarters with a running clock. The clock may stop after a score to flip the field. 2 Special teams adjustments: 1. There are no special teams. a. There are no kickoff or punts. Each possession starts with the ball on the 40-yard line, regardless of whether there is a score, turnover or turnover on downs. b. There are no extra points by a kick. i. All PATs are attempted through a run or pass try. Coaches can choose to go for one point from the 3-yard line or two points from the 5-yard line. Offensive adjustments: 1. The quarterback-center exchange may be direct, pistol or shotgun. 2. All players are eligible to receive a pass. a. Any pass to the snapper/center must travel at least 1-yard beyond the line of scrimmage. 3. All players, except for the center, may receive a handoff behind the neutral zone and become a runner. a. Rule application: A player aligned on the line of scrimmage next to the center in a two- point stance may receive a handoff behind the line of scrimmage. He or she is considered an end, not a guard, and is not required to align in the backfield to be an eligible runner. 4. The player who receives the snap may not directly run with the ball. A handoff, pitch or toss must take place, and the player who receives the ball may run. a. If the player who is intended to receive the snap fumbles the ball or it touches the ground before a handoff takes place, he or she is still not eligible to advance the ball, only to recover it. 5. At least three players – one of which is the center – must be on the line of scrimmage at the snap. These players must be on opposite sides of the center but may be aligned close, as if guards, or wide as if receivers 3 or mixed. 6. All players must be in a two-point stance even if aligned and functioning as traditional offensive lineman. Only the center may be in a three-point stance and only with one hand on the ball. The other hand must be off the ground. 7. The remaining three players must be aligned in the backfield but can be deployed at a coach’s discretion, slot receiver, wing back, running back, etc. 8. Motion is allowed by backfield players. 9. There is no blocking below the waist by any player anywhere on the field. Defensive Adjustments 1. The center must be uncovered. The defensive player aligned directly in line with the center must be four yards behind the line of scrimmage. 2. Defensive players covering the other two players on the line of scrimmage may also align on the line of scrimmage but must remain in a two-point stance and must be aligned directly overtop the offensive line of scrimmage player. They may not shade inside or outside to the gap. 4 Or versus a wide player (still must be head up; cannot shade inside or outside). Versus a mixed formation, both defensive players are on the line of scrimmage and head up. 3. At least one player must be aligned at 10-yards depth as if a traditional safety. 5 4. All other players must be aligned at four-yards depth. 5. Defenses are not required to match line of scrimmage players and can align more player at depth. 6. No blitzes are allowed. Players within the box at the snap can penetrate upon the snap. Linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks (both on the line and at depth) can flow to the ball naturally after a handoff is made, but predetermining penetration to a specific gap is illegal. 6 a. The box includes offensive players who line up within two yards of the ball and on the line of scrimmage along with the defensive players lined up directly over them. b. On pass plays, anyone outside the box on the snap cannot rush the quarterback and must remain behind the line of scrimmage in pass coverage. c. Coaches are encouraged to be creative with their formations but not use “the box” to delay defensive penetration. d. NOTE: The restriction on blitzing is intended to encourage skill development within the passing game and allow young players to execute a successful handoff with limited penetration. 7. If the ball is inside the 4-yard line, the three non-linemen, non-deep players may align on the goal line. 7 4 / 7-PLAYER RULES Rookie Tackle uses the NFHS rule book as a base and employs the following adjustments for 7-player football: 1. Because of the all players, all positions, all skills philosophy, there are no restrictions on jersey numbers or player positions. 2. All game action takes place on one half of the field with all possessions starting on the 40- yard line going toward the end zone in between the numbers. 3. A turnover on downs brings the ball back to the 40-yard line, and the teams switch sides from offense to defense, defense to offense. 4. Turnovers on interceptions or fumbles are blown dead immediately. No returns are allowed in order to protect players from running toward the 20-yard administration zone between the two fields. Play restarts on the 40-yard line with the recovering/intercepting team now on offense. There are no defensive touchdowns. 5. After each play, the ball is spotted in the middle of the field. Hash marks are not used. 6. Because of the limited field size, all 15-yard penalties are enforced as 10-yard penalties. 7. No penalty on the offense can take the ball beyond the 40-yard line to ensure the administration zone. 8. Penalties on the offense that are called and accepted on or behind the 40-yard line result in a loss of down. 9. Penalties on the offense called between the 40-yard line and the end zone in which yardage is lost, even if limited in enforcement by the 40-yard line, are enforced as written in terms of down lost or replayed. 10. There are no defensive safeties. Tackles behind the 40-yard line are respotted at the 40-yard line. 11. All personal foul penalties include an immediate substitution from the field for a minimum of one play to allow coaches to address misconduct and promote good sportsmanship. We call this a cooling off period. 12. All plays are blown dead and the ball is returned to the 40-yard line if an offensive ball-carrier or a fumbled ball crosses over midfield or at the official’s discretion if coaches, administrators or players from the multiple fields and the dead zone area become close enough in proximity to be a concern for safety. 13. The game is played in four 10-minute quarters with a running clock. The clock may stop after a score to flip the field. 8 Special teams adjustments: 1.